Chemical Aria (a Balto fic)
Disc.: If anyone has a problem with me borrowing this wonderful movie series, then march your happy asses out of this fic right now before I rain arrows of hatred on all of you!
A/N: I apologize for my rather violent disclaimer, but some ungrateful assholes who don't get the fucking picture that you chose to read this and didn't like it need to be told the hard way that they brought this on themselves…you all chose to read this story, it's not my fault you didn't like it, it's your own damn fault so I don't wanna hear anything from you if you hate what I wrote. For the rest of you looking for something different and possibly interesting, then I welcome you all with open arms…please be kind for this is only my third Balto fic with the Balto/Steele yaoi pairing, and I hope I did as good a job with this one as I did with the other two on the site. Anyhoo, no more long notes- time for a long chapter!
Summary: Set during a post-apocalyptic Alaska, circa 2209. After multiple wars have wiped out the human race and altered the planet itself, the world is taken over by dogs. Steele is the ruler of Neo Nome and has to deal with many suitors trying to claim him, including Jenna. Steele then hears the rumors of the so-called 'Phantom Wolf-Dog' named Balto and decides to investigate them to see if they're true or just rumors…what will he find when the two finally meet for the first time?
*"Talking"
*'Thoughts/Flashbacks/Memories'
*'Song Lyrics (if needed/requested)'
Ch.1- Empty Rule
The sun rose up and settled over the ruined landscape of an all but empty planet, the sky tinged a pale grey-green from the many wars that'd altered the very world itself into a hellish nightmare. The humans just wouldn't stop fighting with and killing each other, their nuclear weapons wiping every single one of them off the face of the earth and leaving this planet to the only other creatures to survive the fallout: dogs.
All the different cities and continents had been changed drastically, in many different ways that were either better or worse.
All continents near water such as Alaska, North America, South America, and Japan lost their ability to snow but the temperature still dropped into the negative digits as night fell. The water itself was laden with toxins, therefore nothing was able to survive in it except for bio-luminescent fishes and invertebrates. There were places where the water was clean enough to drink, but they were few and far between.
Places with little to no water suffered from liquid nitrogen rainfall every month that was even numbered: February, April, June, and so on until the year ended. Those situated in snow covered mountains had to trudge through extreme heat periods that made it nearly impossible to walk around without dying of heat stroke, whereas those in the desert were subjected to near countless turf wars and ritualistic sacrifice ceremonies held by crazed cult leaders that reduced their populations into the single to double digits and violent electricity laced magnetic wind storms.
On top of the changed world, each individual city had an established ruler that was either merciful or enacted a cruel dictatorship. Some leaders were male, others female, while some chose a leader by popular vote. Steele himself was made leader after his father Roscoe passed the mantle to him before his death nearly a year beforehand. He vowed to make his father proud of him no matter what, and as soon as he was in power the Malamute enacted a few rules to protect the many citizens of Neo Nome.
One of them being that same-sex marriage was allowed within the city, but if they wanted pups they needed a surrogate and she had to be approved by all participating parties involved.
Another was that no one could go out after dark, no exceptions, unless they wanted to be attacked or abducted by wolves. The wolves themselves were very rare, only a small handful were still alive and lived beyond the Petrified DeadRoot Forest.
Trees themselves were also gone forever save for the mangroves that seemed to be able to survive in the toxin laden ocean waters, and any once green trees were replaced with petrified trees that would never sprout foliage again due to the massive amount of toxic chemicals that they'd absorbed over the years.
The black and white Malamute sighed as he observed the whole of his city, the wooden buildings had long since rotted away into nothing more than splinters and dust. The buildings that remained were used as lodging for the many dogs that lived in the city with him and his two brothers: one was a grey and white Malamute named Victor, he was the eldest child but was the head of the city guard regimen. The other was a solid black with white spots named Eric, he served as the Pastor when it came to weddings in the city. Steele looked at his two brothers and then out over the city once more, Victor deciding to speak to them both.
"Steele, Eric…you both know what today is, don't you?"
Steele nodded at his older brother while Eric slipped on his black Pastor's collar, the collar itself having a white metal clip that broke up the endless ring of dark leather before he too nodded at his oldest brother.
"We know Victor, how could we forget since we went over the calendar last night before bed?" Eric said somewhat annoyedly, but he didn't really give off the feeling as he let Steele talk next.
"Today we send the oldest residents of our town off to their deaths by way of lethal injection, they've lived long and meaningful lives but it's time for them to pass on."
"Right, so let us go and address the masses my brothers. Eric, bring the list with you so we can keep track along with the red paw-dipping ink bowl. Steele, bring the box of white flower rosaries to place around their necks as well as the box of pre-filled syringes. I have a hunch that it's gonna be a very long day filled with tears and protesting."
All three brothers set to work doing what was tasked of them, and by the time the sun had risen higher in the sky, everything was ready.
Steele stood next to his brothers as they looked out at the many dogs sitting on the ground in a massive group circle, there were mostly females here today but there were many males present too. The eldest citizens were near the front, they knew what day it was and that their time had come.
Many of the females were fawning over the ones who helped keep their city safe, the three brothers who were appropriately named 'The Three Kings'. Jenna, a red and cream Husky, had her eyes on Steele…ever since they were puppies she adamantly believed that the black and white Malamute was her destined mate, and had made every attempt to woo him but all of them had failed because he would never even bat an eye in her direction.
As the group began quieting down, Steele was the first to speak and everyone present was listening to him with rapt attention.
"Good morning, citizens of Neo Nome. As many of you know, today we send our eldest citizens to their final resting place to be at peace…when your name is called, please come forward to receive your rosary and injection, this will be over with quickly so you will not suffer needlessly. You can spend your final moments with your loved ones before you pass on, so if you have anything to say then please do so before your name is called…up first, we have an Alexandria; please come forward Miss Alexandria."
The one called Alexandria made her way to the stage on shaky legs, she had been suffering from arthritis for many years and was finally going to be rid of the pain as she sat down on her haunches before the Three Kings.
"Miss Alexandria, would you please tell us your age and status within your family?" Victor asked kindly, he didn't want to do this any more than his brothers but knew it had to be done so he tried his best to be nice to the old chocolate Labrador.
"I am 115 years old, and I am a great-great-great grandmother. Please let me spend my last moments with my family, for I know they will miss me terribly when I am gone."
"We shall allow that, my dear…anyone related to Miss Alexandria please take your place next to the white pine-box coffin so that you may be with her when she dies."
They watched as a large family of dogs, mostly puppies and adults, made their way to the stage. The old Labrador female was assisted by her great-great- grandson and his mate as the two males helped her into the pine-box coffin, it was the only item left that had been made by human hands many years ago before the world had become a ruined wasteland.
The old dog received her rosary, the flowers settling around her neck as she lay down in the coffin and given her shot as Eric dipped his paw into the red ink filled bowl and placed a red pawprint next to her name to count her off the list. The whole of her family watched as she closed her eyes in eternal sleep and cried, the next 12 hours consisting of the same ritual until sundown. When the last of the old dogs, a German Shepherd named Kiernan was laid down to rest and buried, the remaining citizens wept for he had no family left alive to mourn his passing.
"Now that we have said our goodbyes to the elders, let us raise our voices to the night and send their spirits to the stars with the traditional farewell hymn." Steele said as he raised his muzzle and let out a howl that echoed across the night sky, the sound turning into a song that the others soon joined in and let their voices be heard as they sang to the spirits to tell them that many brothers and sisters would soon join them for everlasting peace.
"This is the darkest night,
stars have all faded away.
Quiet upon this world…"
"Through the clouds, there is a light…
we will find our way…"
"I would die for you,
cross the sky for you,
I will send out a light burning for you alone…
You're all I need,
you set me free…
and this fire will guide you home."
"There is an open door,
somehow it feels so familiar…
We have been here before.
Through this old forgotten fight,
there must be a way…"
"I would die for you,
cross the sky for you,
I will send out a light burning for you alone…
You're all I need,
you set me free…
and this fire will guide you home."
"Where our hearts are wide open…"
"Where our bond is unbroken…"
"I would die for you,
cross the sky for you,
I will send out a light burning for you alone…"
"I would die for you,
cross the sky for you,
I will send out a light burning for you alone…
you're all I need…"
"(You set me free…)"
"[I would die for you,
cross the sky for you,
I will wait for you,
and I'll stay with you…]"
"You're all I need…"
"[I would die for you,
cross the sky for you,
I will wait for you…]"
"You set me free,
(set me free)
and this fire will guide you home…"
As the last of the notes echoed away, the dogs waited a few minutes before dispersing back to their homes. This ritual never got any easier or less sad, but it had to be done in order to keep the population from growing too large or suffering from too much pain as Steele and his brothers went home as well. Steele wondered to himself as an afterthought if his mate was out there waiting for him beyond the city, he hoped so with all his heart as he soon gave in to sleep.
Hopefully tomorrow would be better, but none of them were aware that a golden eyed wolf-dog had heard their song from his own home in a city much further away from theirs. Balto had heard the sad hymn that was depressing yet beautiful, his heart beating rapidly as he had managed to pick out from amongst them the one who had sung with the most beautiful voice of all of them.
And Balto couldn't wait to meet the one who blessed the sky with that voice.
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T.B.C.- So, here's chapter 1, hope ya'll like it…please review and let me know, they make me wanna keep supplying you with stories.
